Idioms
English fixed expressions — phrases whose meaning isn't obvious from the individual words. Each entry shows the meaning, an example sentence, and its register.
660 idioms
CEFR A2 (5)
better late than never
Neutral · CEFR A2
Doing something after a delay is better than not doing it at all.
break someone's heart
Neutral · CEFR A2
To make someone feel deep emotional pain, often by ending a relationship.
bright and early
Neutral · CEFR A2
at the very start of the morning
early bird
Neutral · CEFR A2
someone who prefers beginning the day before most other people
keep an eye on
Neutral · CEFR A2
to watch or look after someone or something carefully, often to make sure nothing goes wrong
CEFR B1 (119)
a blessing in disguise
Neutral · CEFR B1
Something that seems bad at first but turns out to have a good outcome.
a fair share
Neutral · CEFR B1
a reasonable portion or a substantial amount of something, especially work or difficulties
a fish out of water
Neutral · CEFR B1
Someone who feels uncomfortable because they are in an unfamiliar situation.
actions speak louder than words
Neutral · CEFR B1
What you do matters more than what you say.
alive and kicking
Neutral · CEFR B1
still healthy, active, or functioning despite age or difficulty
anyone's guess
Neutral · CEFR B1
something whose answer or outcome is completely uncertain
as a rule
Neutral · CEFR B1
usually or in most situations
back to basics
Neutral · CEFR B1
returning to the simple, fundamental principles of an activity
bear in mind
Neutral · CEFR B1
to remember and consider something when making a decision
break the ice
Neutral · CEFR B1
To do or say something that eases tension and gets people talking comfortably in an unfamiliar social situation.
bury one's head in the sand
Neutral · CEFR B1
to ignore an unpleasant reality hoping it will go away
bury the hatchet
Neutral · CEFR B1
to reconcile with someone and bring a quarrel to an end
catch someone's eye
Neutral · CEFR B1
to draw someone's notice or interest
come to mind
Neutral · CEFR B1
to appear in one's thoughts or memory
cry wolf
Neutral · CEFR B1
to give false warnings so often that a real warning may later be ignored
cut your losses
Neutral · CEFR B1
to stop investing in a failing venture in order to avoid further loss
domino effect
Neutral · CEFR B1
a chain reaction in which one event triggers a series of similar events
don't judge a book by its cover
Neutral · CEFR B1
appearances can be misleading, so assess things properly
drop a hint
Neutral · CEFR B1
suggest something indirectly instead of saying it openly
drop someone a line
Neutral · CEFR B1
to get in touch by sending a short note, message, or email
dry run
Neutral · CEFR B1
a full practice session of a process, done for real except in name
easier said than done
Neutral · CEFR B1
Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.
every cloud has a silver lining
Neutral · CEFR B1
Every difficult situation has some hopeful or positive aspect.
every last
Neutral · CEFR B1
all members or items in a group, with no exceptions at all
CEFR B2 (408)
(take) a step back/further
Neutral · CEFR B2
to pause and reconsider a situation (step back), or develop an idea or action beyond its current point (step further)
a bad press
Neutral · CEFR B2
unfavorable reporting or reputation in the media or among people
a bone of contention
Neutral · CEFR B2
a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people
a bull in a china shop
Neutral · CEFR B2
A clumsy person who causes damage or upset in a delicate situation.
a shot in the dark
Neutral · CEFR B2
a guess or attempt with very little chance of success
across the board
Neutral · CEFR B2
affecting everyone or everything equally
add fuel to the fire
Neutral · CEFR B2
To make a bad situation or an argument worse.
add insult to injury
Neutral · CEFR B2
make an already bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm
ahead of the game
Neutral · CEFR B2
to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs
all in a day's work
Neutral · CEFR B2
a task treated as routine because it belongs to someone's normal duties
along the lines of
Neutral · CEFR B2
similar to; roughly in the style or manner of
armed to the teeth
Neutral · CEFR B2
equipped with a very large number of weapons and ready for conflict
as luck would have it
Neutral · CEFR B2
By a fortunate coincidence, often introducing an unexpectedly helpful event.
at a loss for words
Neutral · CEFR B2
unable to express yourself because an emotional or confusing moment leaves you speechless
at death's door
Neutral · CEFR B2
so seriously ill or injured that death seems close
at the back of one's mind
Neutral · CEFR B2
a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on
at the drop of a hat
Neutral · CEFR B2
immediately and with no hesitation when an opportunity or prompt appears
back to square one
Neutral · CEFR B2
to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed
back to the drawing board
Neutral · CEFR B2
to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed
balancing act
Neutral · CEFR B2
a difficult situation in which someone must divide time, attention, or importance between competing needs
batten down the hatches
Neutral · CEFR B2
to prepare yourself and your resources for an approaching difficult situation
bear fruit
Neutral · CEFR B2
to produce a successful or useful result
behind bars
Neutral · CEFR B2
in prison
behind closed doors
Neutral · CEFR B2
in private, away from public observation
CEFR C1 (128)
Pandora's box
Neutral · CEFR C1
an action or situation that unleashes many unexpected and hard-to-control problems
a bitter pill to swallow
Neutral · CEFR C1
an unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted
a dark horse
Neutral · CEFR C1
A person who surprises everyone by showing unexpected talent or success.
a leopard can't change its spots
Neutral · CEFR C1
A person's basic character cannot fundamentally change.
a stitch in time saves nine
Neutral · CEFR C1
Fixing a small problem early prevents a much bigger one later.
a storm in a teacup
Neutral · CEFR C1
A great deal of fuss made about a trivial matter.
a tough nut to crack
Neutral · CEFR C1
a hard problem to solve or a hard person to convince
a wolf in sheep's clothing
Neutral · CEFR C1
A dangerous person who pretends to be harmless or friendly.
above board
Neutral · CEFR C1
honest, legal, and transparent
ace in the hole
Neutral · CEFR C1
a secret advantage kept hidden until it is needed
ace up your sleeve
Neutral · CEFR C1
a hidden advantage kept in reserve
against the grain
Neutral · CEFR C1
in a way that conflicts with what is usual or with someone's natural character
arms race
Neutral · CEFR C1
a competitive spiral in which rivals keep escalating their investment to stay ahead
at a pinch
Neutral · CEFR C1
if it becomes absolutely necessary, though the option is barely adequate
at loggerheads
Neutral · CEFR C1
in strong disagreement or conflict with someone
bar none
Neutral · CEFR C1
without exception, especially when declaring something the best in its category
beg the question
Neutral · CEFR C1
to make one naturally want to ask a particular question; (formally) to assume the very point being argued
blind leading the blind
Neutral · CEFR C1
people with no experience guiding others who have no experience
blue ocean
Neutral · CEFR C1
an uncontested market space with no direct competitors
boil the ocean
Neutral · CEFR C1
to attempt something impossibly large or ambitious, especially by trying to solve every problem at once
bootstrapping
Neutral · CEFR C1
building a company without outside investment, funding it from personal resources and revenue
born with a silver spoon in your mouth
Neutral · CEFR C1
born into a wealthy family
bridge round
Neutral · CEFR C1
short-term financing that keeps a company afloat until a larger funding round closes
bright young thing
Neutral · CEFR C1
a clever, lively, attractive young person with strong social appeal